“Advice? What sort of advice?” Gillian glanced toward the door. Shouldn’t the maid she asked for be arriving by now?

“As I said earlier, I have every reason to believe Lord Weston murdered his wife.”

“Oh, that,” Gillian interrupted dismissively. “My lord, we’ve been through that. No matter what Lady Weston told you, I refuse to believe that Noble acted as you have implied. He is simply not capable of such behavior.”

Carlisle took her hand in his again, but this time his eyes were serious and full of concern. “My dear, I know it is hard for you to admit, but your husband was responsible for his wife’s death, and for her suffering before that untimely event. I cannot help but worry that should his substantial temper turn on you, you might suffer the same fate as my dear Elizabeth.”

“I appreciate your concern,” Gillian told him, giving his hand a slight squeeze. “But I am in no danger from Noble, nor will you ever convince me he had anything to do with his wife’s death. Now, if you could tell me the information about the attack on Noble you wish to impart, I would be most grateful.”

Carlisle closed his eyes for a moment and was just about to speak when someone knocked on the door.

“Oh, good, that will be the maid,” Gillian said as she started for the door.

“Lady Weston?”

It was a man’s voice at the door.

“Oh, my,” she said with a guilty glance toward the earl.

He held a finger to his lips and slipped into the wardrobe.

“Yes?” Gillian opened the door. It was the short footman. He looked nervously to either side, then pushed the door back slightly and squeezed through the opening.

“My lady, your husband has arrived and is seeking you. I would suggest you have your…rest…later.”

“Oh, yes, of course. Um…” Gillian sent a concerned look toward the wardrobe. She hated to leave the earl without finding out what information he had about Noble’s attacker. “Can you be discreet…uh…”

“Jones,” the man replied, nodding. “Quite discreet, madam.”

“Excellent,” Gillian said with a relieved smile and opened the door to the wardrobe. “Lord Carlisle, you may come out. Jones here will be discreet, so you may tell me what it is you know about the foul attack against Noble in front of him.”

Carlisle rolled his eyes as he started to step out of the wardrobe, but a sudden knock at the door forced him to pause.

Gillian gave him an apologetic smile and, pushing him back inside the wardrobe, closed the door again. She waved the footman behind the screen and went to open the door.

“Am I too late?” Charlotte asked as she stepped in.

“Not too late, no, although I believe the problem has been taken care of,” Gillian replied as she went to release Lord Carlisle. “Jones, you might as well come out too.”

Charlotte looked with surprise as an earl popped out of the wardrobe, while a liveried footman emerged from behind the screen. “Gillian, I never would have thought you had it in you!” she teased.